"What Can't we do?"...this is what they are bragging as I type a new blog description for my blog. They are extremists and are bragging HERE AT U-C-L-A "we can get away with anything." What CAN't they DO???? their words!

Bonnie M. Dumanis

Experienced Felony Prosecutor

Innovative Leader

Seasoned Law Enforcement Manager

Bonnie Dumanis is one of San Diego's most innovative and respected law
enforcement leaders. She's spent her entire career in public service and her
unique blend of experience – three-term District Attorney, Superior Court Judge
and Clerk Typist – has given her the skills to successfully reorganize and run
one of the largest criminal justice operations in California. Throughout her
career Bonnie has been recognized as a team builder and organizational
strategist.

Bonnie's Career

Bonnie's first job as a Junior Clerk Typist in the County, and later as an
Intermediate Clerk Typist in the office she now heads, earned her just a few
dollars an hour but are positions she considers extremely important in shaping
her approach to government organization and management. Even though she is
currently the top law enforcement official in San Diego County, Bonnie has never
forgotten her first job in the DA's office and keeps a plaque in her office that
reads, "The clerk helping in your division today may be your boss tomorrow."Bonnie studied law at night and received her law degree from Thomas Jefferson
School of Law in 1976. She went on to serve 12 years as a San Diego Deputy
District Attorney, prosecuting murders, rapes, robberies, child abuse and sexual
assault cases.In 1990, Bonnie was appointed by the Court and served as Superior Court
Referee. She was elected Judge of the Municipal Court in 1994. She served in
this capacity for the next four years, using her strength in organizational
leadership to create one of the first Drug Courts in San Diego, which was
recognized as a national model.In 1998, Bonnie was elected Judge of the San Diego Superior Court and
continued to find innovative approaches to criminal justice, this time with a
program called Domestic Violence Court to reduce recidivism among perpetrators.
Her ideas about stressing accountability and treatment for the batterers have
received statewide recognition.Creating a Better District Attorney's Office

After taking office as District Attorney in 2003, Bonnie undertook a major
reorganization of the office that she considers one of the most important tasks
of her career. "Our work has very real impacts on people's lives and
their safety," she says. "We owe it to the taxpayers and the
victims of crime to do the best job we can, and that meant making some major
changes."Reorganizing the DA's Office was not easy, since the basic structure had not
seen change in three decades. Under her collaborative approach that brought all
parties to the table, including employees, attorneys and taxpayers, the office
established a Cold Case Homicide Division, Narcotics Division and Sex Crimes and
Stalking Division. She also began a program encouraging minorities to consider
careers in criminal justice, and she has improved diversity among the DA
Office's employees so that it essentially mirrors that of the county's
population. She implemented a Business Management Plan and a new level of
accountability to the office.In the DA's Office, all systems and functions continue to be examined to
ensure their current value and effectiveness to consolidate, streamline and
leverage technology for efficiency. One of the biggest changes Bonnie made is a
focused effort to settle criminal cases, when appropriate, earlier during the
adjudication process, which resulted in an annual savings to the taxpayer of
millions of dollars.Bonnie's work to create a better-functioning District Attorney's Office has
paid off in recent years, when the effects of our ongoing economic recession
have decimated some government agencies. "The DA's Office has to do more
with a lot less right now," Bonnie notes, "And we are in better
shape than many other organizations to weather this storm." Working
closely with employees and with public safety as everyone's top priority, Bonnie
and the roughly 1,000 employees she oversees have maintained a 94 percent
conviction rate, one of the highest in the State. At the same time, DA Dumanis
has focused on crime prevention, stopping the revolving door to prison, and
helping victims. She has also increased transparency and public access to the
DA's Office, including the development of a Citizen`s Academy and advisory
committees for youth, women and the general community.

Protecting San Diego: Bonnie's Critical Initiatives

Under Bonnie's direction, the DA's office helped write and pass California's
Proposition 83, known as Jessica's Law. This law tightens
restrictions on child molesters and sexually-violent predators, making
California one of the toughest states in the nation in dealing with these
offenders. Recently,

her office worked to help draft and pass Chelsea's
Law, increasing penalties for sex offenders. Bonnie and her office also
fought to pass Proposition 69, to increase the use of DNA to solve crimes.Bonnie's office is also leading California in implementing a prisoner reform
program (SB 618), which provides non-violent offenders with job training,
treatment, and wrap around services to keep them from returning to a life of
crime once they are released from prison. The DA's Office, in partnership with
the Courts, law enforcement organizations and all stakeholders, has just begun a
Re-entry Court.

Serving Our Community

In addition to her dedication to the criminal justice system, Bonnie has
never wavered in her support of community and civic organizations. She has
served on the California State Bar Board of Governors, is past president of the
California District Attorneys Association, was a Commissioner for California
Peace Officers Standards and Training, is Vice-President of the National
District Attorneys Association, is a member of the San Diego County Police
Chiefs’ and Sheriff`s Association, served as past president of the Lawyers Club
of San Diego, served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Bar Association
and taught ethics at the University Of San Diego School Of Law.

Bonnie has also volunteered for hospice and the Mesa Vista Hospital. She
currently serves on the Advisory Boards for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
and Second Chance.Bonnie has also been recognized by the YWCA Tribute to Women Award, the
California Women in Government Law and Justice Award and the Salvation Army
Women's Auxiliary Women of Dedication Award.